Cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, necessitating the development of advanced therapeutic strategies with enhanced efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity. Among promising bioactive agents, lactoferrin (LF)—a multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein abundantly found in mammalian milk and exocrine secretions—has garnered significant interest for its potent and multifaceted anti-cancer properties. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current understanding of LF’s role in oncology, encompassing its structural biology, diverse mechanisms of action, and groundbreaking advancements in its application through nano-engineering. LF exerts anti-tumor effects through multiple pathways, including extracellular action, intracellular action, and immune regulation. It demonstrates a remarkable affinity for cancer cell membranes, binding to overexpressed anionic components such as glycosaminoglycans and sialic acids, as well as to specific receptors including the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1). This selective binding facilitates targeted uptake. Upon internalization, LF orchestrates a direct assault by inducing cell-cycle arrest in phases such as G0/G1 or S phase through the modulation of key regulators including cyclins, CDKs, and p53. Furthermore, it promotes programmed cell death via apoptotic pathways, involving caspase activation and downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins such as survivin. A more recently elucidated mechanism is the induction of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death characterized by overwhelming lipid peroxidation. Beyond direct cytotoxicity, LF acts as a potent immunomodulator. It enhances natural killer (NK) cell activity, modulates T-lymphocyte populations, and crucially reprograms tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) from a pro-tumor M2 state to an anti-tumor M1 state, thereby reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The translation of LF’s potential has been significantly accelerated by nanotechnology. The inherent biocompatibility and natural tumor-targeting capabilities of LF make it an ideal platform for sophisticated drug-delivery systems. This review details various fabrication strategies for LF-based nanoparticles (NPs), including self-assembly, sol-in-oil emulsion, and electrostatic nanocomplexes, among others. Research demonstrates that nano-formulations not only protect LF from degradation but also enhance its bioactivity and anti-cancer potency. More importantly, LF NPs serve as versatile carriers for a wide array of therapeutic agents, including conventional chemotherapeutics, natural compounds, and imaging agents. These engineered systems enable synergistic therapy and facilitate site-specific delivery. Notably, the ability of LF to bind to receptors on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been leveraged to develop nano-systems for glioblastoma treatment. Other innovative designs utilize LF to modulate the TME—for instance, by alleviating tumor hypoxia to sensitize cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite compelling pre-clinical evidence, the clinical translation of LF and its nano-formulations remains nascent. While early-phase trials have established a favorable safety profile for recombinant human LF, larger Phase III studies have yielded mixed results, underscoring the complexity of its action in humans. Key challenges include enhancing drug targeting, optimizing loading efficiency, ensuring batch-to-batch reproducibility, and achieving deep tumor penetration. Future research must focus on the rational design of next-generation LF-NPs. This entails developing standardized manufacturing protocols, engineering “smart” stimuli-responsive systems for targeted drug release in the TME, and constructing multi-targeting platforms. A concerted interdisciplinary effort is paramount to bridge the gap between bench and bedside. In conclusion, LF, particularly in its nano-engineered forms, represents a highly promising and versatile agent in the oncological arsenal, holding immense potential for precise and effective cancer therapy.

Cancer remains a leading cause of global mortality, necessitating the development of advanced therapeutic strategies with enhanced efficacy and reduced systemic toxicity. Among promising bioactive agents, lactoferrin (LF)—a multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein abundantly found in mammalian milk and exocrine secretions—has garnered significant interest for its potent and multifaceted anti-cancer properties. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current understanding of LF’s role in oncology, encompassing its structural biology, diverse mechanisms of action, and groundbreaking advancements in its application through nano-engineering. LF exerts anti-tumor effects through multiple pathways, including extracellular action, intracellular action, and immune regulation. It demonstrates a remarkable affinity for cancer cell membranes, binding to overexpressed anionic components such as glycosaminoglycans and sialic acids, as well as to specific receptors including the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1). This selective binding facilitates targeted uptake. Upon internalization, LF orchestrates a direct assault by inducing cell-cycle arrest in phases such as G0/G1 or S phase through the modulation of key regulators including cyclins, CDKs, and p53. Furthermore, it promotes programmed cell death via apoptotic pathways, involving caspase activation and downregulation of anti-apoptotic proteins such as survivin. A more recently elucidated mechanism is the induction of ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death characterized by overwhelming lipid peroxidation. Beyond direct cytotoxicity, LF acts as a potent immunomodulator. It enhances natural killer (NK) cell activity, modulates T-lymphocyte populations, and crucially reprograms tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) from a pro-tumor M2 state to an anti-tumor M1 state, thereby reversing the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). The translation of LF’s potential has been significantly accelerated by nanotechnology. The inherent biocompatibility and natural tumor-targeting capabilities of LF make it an ideal platform for sophisticated drug-delivery systems. This review details various fabrication strategies for LF-based nanoparticles (NPs), including self-assembly, sol-in-oil emulsion, and electrostatic nanocomplexes, among others. Research demonstrates that nano-formulations not only protect LF from degradation but also enhance its bioactivity and anti-cancer potency. More importantly, LF NPs serve as versatile carriers for a wide array of therapeutic agents, including conventional chemotherapeutics, natural compounds, and imaging agents. These engineered systems enable synergistic therapy and facilitate site-specific delivery. Notably, the ability of LF to bind to receptors on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been leveraged to develop nano-systems for glioblastoma treatment. Other innovative designs utilize LF to modulate the TME—for instance, by alleviating tumor hypoxia to sensitize cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite compelling pre-clinical evidence, the clinical translation of LF and its nano-formulations remains nascent. While early-phase trials have established a favorable safety profile for recombinant human LF, larger Phase III studies have yielded mixed results, underscoring the complexity of its action in humans. Key challenges include enhancing drug targeting, optimizing loading efficiency, ensuring batch-to-batch reproducibility, and achieving deep tumor penetration. Future research must focus on the rational design of next-generation LF-NPs. This entails developing standardized manufacturing protocols, engineering “smart” stimuli-responsive systems for targeted drug release in the TME, and constructing multi-targeting platforms. A concerted interdisciplinary effort is paramount to bridge the gap between bench and bedside. In conclusion, LF, particularly in its nano-engineered forms, represents a highly promising and versatile agent in the oncological arsenal, holding immense potential for precise and effective cancer therapy.

Intra-abdominal Hernia with Bowel Obstruction Triggering Multi-organ Failure: The Role of Preoperative Enteritis This report details the clinical course of a 41-year-old male who developed fulminant multiple organ dysfunction syndrome following emergency surgery for a strangulated intra-abdominal hernia. Preoperative manifestations, including diarrhea and marked leukocytosis, pointed towards an underlying infectious enteritis. We posited that surgical release of the obstructed, ischemic bowel segment precipitated a massive systemic influx of endotoxins and inflammatory mediators, triggering septic shock and rapid sequential organ failure. This case underscored the critical need to suspect concomitant gastrointestinal infection in patients presenting with mechanical bowel obstruction accompanied by infectious signs. Aggressive perioperative sepsis management encompassing early empiric antimicrobial therapy, vigilant hemodynamic monitoring, and preparedness for advanced organ support is essential to mitigate this severe complication.

Objective:To observe the early efficacy of intense pulsed light(IPL)combined with non-ablative fractional laser(NAFL)in preventing postoperative pathological scar formation and intervention of inflammatory factors.Methods:93 patients with postoperative pathological scar formation who were admitted to our hospital from March 2022 to September 2024 were selected,they were divided into control group A(silicone gel treatment,n=31),control group B(NAFL on the basis of control group A,n=31)and study group(IPL on the basis of control group B,n=31)using the random number table method.The clinical efficacy,simple quality of life scale(SF-36),vancouver scar scale(VSS),inflammatory factors[interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),C-reactive protein(CRP)],and adverse reactions among three groups were compared.Results:The clinical total effective rate in the study group were higher than those in the control group A and control group B(P＜0.05).SF-36 increased sequentially and VSS decreased sequentially in control group A,control group B,and study group after treatment(P＜0.05).CRP,IL-6,and TNF-α decreased sequentially in control group A,control group B,and study group after treatment(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion:IPL combined with NAFL in preventing postoperative pathological scar formation,can effectively reduce scar formation,reduce inflammatory factors levels,improve patients' quality of life,and be safe and reliable.

Objective:The genotoxicity risk of graphene artificial nerve sheath conduit was systematically evaluated to provide scientific evidence for their clinical safety and to establish methodological references for the genotoxicity assessment of nanomaterial medical devices.Methods:The potential effects of graphene artificial nerve sheath conduit on genetic and chromosomal endpoints were analyzed by integrating bacterial reverse mutation assays,in vitro chromosome aberration assays,mouse lymphoma cell TK gene mutation tests,and mammalian erythrocyte Pig-a gene mutation assays.Results:In the bacterial reverse mutation assay,all plates showed good background growth.There was no significant difference in the average number of revertant colonies between the test group and the negative control group,with a ratio around 1.0.In the in vitro chromosome aberration assay,the chromosomal aberration rate in the test group was less than 5％,showing no significant increase compared to the negative control group.In the mouse lymphoma cell TK gene mutation assay,the mutation frequency in the test group was less than twice that of the negative control group,with no significant difference.In the mammalian erythrocyte Pig-a gene mutation assay,the mutation frequencies of erythrocytes and reticulocytes in the test group were both less than 3× 10-6,showing no significant difference compared to the negative control group.Conclusions:Graphene artificial nerve sheath conduit exhibited no detectable genotoxicity under the tested conditions,the research results can provide reference and guidance for the genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterial medical devices.

Objective:To observe the early efficacy of intense pulsed light(IPL)combined with non-ablative fractional laser(NAFL)in preventing postoperative pathological scar formation and intervention of inflammatory factors.Methods:93 patients with postoperative pathological scar formation who were admitted to our hospital from March 2022 to September 2024 were selected,they were divided into control group A(silicone gel treatment,n=31),control group B(NAFL on the basis of control group A,n=31)and study group(IPL on the basis of control group B,n=31)using the random number table method.The clinical efficacy,simple quality of life scale(SF-36),vancouver scar scale(VSS),inflammatory factors[interleukin-6(IL-6),tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α),C-reactive protein(CRP)],and adverse reactions among three groups were compared.Results:The clinical total effective rate in the study group were higher than those in the control group A and control group B(P＜0.05).SF-36 increased sequentially and VSS decreased sequentially in control group A,control group B,and study group after treatment(P＜0.05).CRP,IL-6,and TNF-α decreased sequentially in control group A,control group B,and study group after treatment(P＜0.05).There was no significant difference in the incidence of adverse reactions among the three groups(P＞0.05).Conclusion:IPL combined with NAFL in preventing postoperative pathological scar formation,can effectively reduce scar formation,reduce inflammatory factors levels,improve patients' quality of life,and be safe and reliable.

Objective:The genotoxicity risk of graphene artificial nerve sheath conduit was systematically evaluated to provide scientific evidence for their clinical safety and to establish methodological references for the genotoxicity assessment of nanomaterial medical devices.Methods:The potential effects of graphene artificial nerve sheath conduit on genetic and chromosomal endpoints were analyzed by integrating bacterial reverse mutation assays,in vitro chromosome aberration assays,mouse lymphoma cell TK gene mutation tests,and mammalian erythrocyte Pig-a gene mutation assays.Results:In the bacterial reverse mutation assay,all plates showed good background growth.There was no significant difference in the average number of revertant colonies between the test group and the negative control group,with a ratio around 1.0.In the in vitro chromosome aberration assay,the chromosomal aberration rate in the test group was less than 5％,showing no significant increase compared to the negative control group.In the mouse lymphoma cell TK gene mutation assay,the mutation frequency in the test group was less than twice that of the negative control group,with no significant difference.In the mammalian erythrocyte Pig-a gene mutation assay,the mutation frequencies of erythrocytes and reticulocytes in the test group were both less than 3× 10-6,showing no significant difference compared to the negative control group.Conclusions:Graphene artificial nerve sheath conduit exhibited no detectable genotoxicity under the tested conditions,the research results can provide reference and guidance for the genotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterial medical devices.

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological dynamics and spatiotemporal diffusion trend of brucellosis in China from 2010 to 2024.Methods:Data on reported human brucellosis cases in mainland China from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2024, were collected via the"China Information System for Disease Control and Prevention", including detailed information on the date of onset, gender, age, occupation, and residential address of the cases. The Joinpoint regression and spatial interpolation techniques were used to investigate the spatiotemporal dynamics and population distribution characteristics of human brucellosis in pastoral/semi-pastoral areas and other regions, as well as urban and rural areas, and explore the epidemic trends of the disease.Results:From 2010 to 2024, pastoral/semi-pastoral regions reported 252 094 brucellosis cases, with a mean annual incidence rate of 36.57±7.28 per 100 000. In contrast, other regions cumulatively recorded 519 748 cases during the same period, demonstrating a significantly lower mean annual incidence rate of 2.54±0.74 per 100 000. The incidence rate of human brucellosis in pastoral/semi-pastoral regions exhibited a declining-rebounding-declining trend. Specifically, the incidence rate decreased significantly from 2010 to 2017 (APC=-7.20; P<0.001) and increased notably from 2017 to 2021 (APC=18.00; P=0.015) with a decline again from 2021 to 2024 (APC=-7.53; P=0.027). In other regions, the incidence rate showed a fluctuating upward trend. Specifically, the incidence rate increased significantly from 2010 to 2015 (APC=20.37; P<0.001) and decreased notably from 2015 to 2018 (APC=-21.78; P<0.001), followed by an increase again from 2018 to 2024, a significant upward trend in incidence rate from 2018 to 2021 (APC=26.73; P<0.001) and a non-significant decline from 2021 to 2024 (APC=-0.99; P=0.735), resulting in the maintenance of a relatively high incidence level. Rural areas demonstrated significantly higher brucellosis incidence rates than urban settings (all P<0.001). Brucellosis exhibited a diffusion trend from the northern epidemic areas of China to neighboring regions, along with sporadic diffusion in southern regions between 2010 and 2024. The age structure of patients in pastoral/semi-pastoral areas differed significantly from that in other regions. Specifically, in pastoral/semi-pastoral areas, the incidence rate was higher among the 35-49 age groups, while in other regions, the incidence rate was higher among those aged 55-64. Conclusion:There are notable disparities in the incidence of human brucellosis between pastoral/semi-pastoral areas and other regions in China. Human brucellosis exhibits a diffusion trend from the northern epidemic areas of China to neighboring regions, along with sporadic diffusion in southern regions.

Objective To evaluate the changes of perivascular space(PVS)in patients with subacute ischemic stroke(IS),as well as the relationship between PVS and cognitive dysfunction in IS patients,and to analyze the relationship between PVS indicators and cognitive function in subacute IS patients of different ages.Methods A total of 44 healthy controls(HC)and 39 patients with subacute IS were prospectively included.Automated quantitative analysis of MRI data was conducted to determine pPVS in the white matter and subcortical regions.Differences in pPVS between patients with subacute IS and HC were compared.Correlations between age,pPVS,and cognitive dysfunction were analyzed and modeled.Results Compared with the HC,the white matter pPVS in patients with subacute IS was significantly reduced(t=-2.21,P=0.031).In patients with subacute IS,the white matter pPVS showed a significant positive correlation with lesion volume(r=0.42,P=0.030)and mini-mental state examination(MMSE)scores(r=0.44,P=0.018).Both white matter pPVS(r=-0.42,P=0.010)and MMSE scores(r=-3.82,P=0.000 7)were negatively correlated with age.When age was over 61.35 years,there was a positive correlation between the white matter pPVS and MMSE scores.Conclusion PVS are closely related to cognitive impairment in patients with subacute IS.Age is a significant modulating factor in the relationship between PVS and cognitive dysfunction.Early monitoring of PVS and targeting it for intervention may positively impact the improvement of cognitive dysfunction following IS.

Objective To evaluate the changes of perivascular space(PVS)in patients with subacute ischemic stroke(IS),as well as the relationship between PVS and cognitive dysfunction in IS patients,and to analyze the relationship between PVS indicators and cognitive function in subacute IS patients of different ages.Methods A total of 44 healthy controls(HC)and 39 patients with subacute IS were prospectively included.Automated quantitative analysis of MRI data was conducted to determine pPVS in the white matter and subcortical regions.Differences in pPVS between patients with subacute IS and HC were compared.Correlations between age,pPVS,and cognitive dysfunction were analyzed and modeled.Results Compared with the HC,the white matter pPVS in patients with subacute IS was significantly reduced(t=-2.21,P=0.031).In patients with subacute IS,the white matter pPVS showed a significant positive correlation with lesion volume(r=0.42,P=0.030)and mini-mental state examination(MMSE)scores(r=0.44,P=0.018).Both white matter pPVS(r=-0.42,P=0.010)and MMSE scores(r=-3.82,P=0.000 7)were negatively correlated with age.When age was over 61.35 years,there was a positive correlation between the white matter pPVS and MMSE scores.Conclusion PVS are closely related to cognitive impairment in patients with subacute IS.Age is a significant modulating factor in the relationship between PVS and cognitive dysfunction.Early monitoring of PVS and targeting it for intervention may positively impact the improvement of cognitive dysfunction following IS.